Customer Trust Key to Banking, Here's the Impact If Funds Are Moved

The Director of Economics at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), Nailul Huda, has stated that customers have rights over their accounts in the banking system in accordance with the Banking Law and consumer protection legislation. Huda made the remarks in response to the case of Bank Mandiri blocking the account of a coordinator of the Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB).

“Customers have the right to withdraw money, obtain information, and so forth regarding the accounts they own,” Huda said when contacted by Republika in Jakarta on Monday (24/8/2026).

Huda said banks are merely entrusted by customers to safeguard money stored in the form of accounts. This means, he said, unilateral blocking by a bank violates customer rights under the Banking Law and consumer rights.

“This is what has occurred in the case of Bank Mandiri blocking the AMPB account at the request of law enforcement officials,” he said.

Huda explained that blocking can indeed be carried out under certain conditions based on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), which should be accompanied by notification regarding the matter constituting a criminal offence. If either of these two elements is absent, Huda continued, the bank and the law enforcement officials requesting the blocking have violated the law.